There were a lot of events and “meant to be” occurrences that brought us to Indigo Point in the British Virgin Islands.
The first was more than 63 years ago, before I was born. My mom, Donna, was 8 months pregnant with me when she and my dad, Glenn, plus my two older siblings, Angela and Randy, moved from Minnesota to California. Mom was in need of guidance on finding a doctor. Dad went to the nearby Lutheran Church and asked the pastor to send out a pregnant member to aid mom. That night, Owen and Betty Craig arrived to help out the Rye family. Betty was also far along in her pregnancy. When my mom had me and Betty had Owen, Jr. The two families formed a close bond that still exists today. Although the Craig family moved to Kansas and the Ryes eventually move to Colorado, we still stayed in contact. The two families went on a vacation together to the Bahamas in the late 70’s and attended each others family weddings. Part of the bond between the families came from shared loss and sorrow. We lost Angela and the Craig family lost Owen Sr. and Owen Jr.
Many years had passed, when I invited Dan Craig and his wife Carrie to join me on our boat, Sunshine. Not to miss out on time with the Craig family members, my dad and brother, Randy, joined the trip. As with all dear friends, we reconnected as if we saw each other on a regular basis. Being gluttons for punishment, Dan and Carrie and brother Mark and his wife Suzie joined me for other cruises on board Sunshine.
It was on board Sunshine in 2019 that Dan Craig made the most generous offer. The Craig family invited the entire Rye family to go on a week long sailboat charter in the British Virgin Islands. With such an unbelievable offer on the table, the Rye family was quickly “all in”.
The BVI sailboat charter was the second week of January 2020. There were eleven of us. Dan and Carrie Craig, Mark and Suzie Craig, my brother Randy and his wife, Ellen, brother, Greg, and sister, Ramona, Brigid, Summer and I were also on board the new 52′ Lagoon Catamaran that could sleep up to 13. Based on a rather dubious history of boating, I was appointed captain. The time together was fantastic. The cruising conditions, however, were awful. We endured a week of unusually strong winds, violent squalls and white capped heavy seas.
The sailboat charter company was located on Scrub Island. To get to the airport to depart, we had to take the Scrub Island ferry over to Trellis Bay. We boarded the ferry with the Craigs. While we were waiting to depart, I asked a nice looking couple sitting close by if they had been on a charter and also endured the heavy wind and seas. The gentlemen said, “No, we have a house here.” Hearing this, Dan Craig and I, both being in real estate, quickly started an extensive interrogation of this gentleman. “What is the market like?” , “Where do you live?”, “Are there good opportunities to buy?” The nice man told us that we would cruise right by his home which was in a development called Indigo Plantation on a nearby island called Great Camanoe. He explained that the development offered fee simple title and had its own marina. He told us that there were several hurricane damaged homes that were good values. As we cruised by, he pointed out his home, a set of beautiful bright yellow buildings above the bay and marina. The questions continued a short while later when we spotted the man and his wife at the airport check-in line. The interrogation continued in the departure lounge and out on to the tarmac. Finally, I gave the gentleman my M/V Sunshine business card and he gave me his card. His name was Rodney Shands, he was a judge from Mississippi. He ended our visit with “Please call me with any questions, but the best thing is to come back and look at the properties in person.”
During our visit, Rodney and his wife, Ginger, had mentioned one hurricane damaged home that “had good bones” and was on a wonderful oceanside lot. It was owned by their dear friends who had decided to sell. The property was called Indigo Point.
As soon as I sat down on the airplane, I wrote the following note on my iPhone:
Great Camanoe island
Indigo plantation
Recommended by nice judge from Mississippi
Fee simple ownership
Private marina
Only other private marina at little Dix
Homes from 500k to 1.5M
For sale coco mo.
Indigo Point
We would learn later that Rodney and Ginger had never taken the Scrub Island ferry before. They were only on board because the high winds had prevented a neighbor from taking them across on his boat. It was pure luck and “meant to be” that we bumped into them.
I love the photos and the history! I have to say Dan that you haven’t changed a bit since that 1958 photo, right down to the bib (that you still need even if you don’t wear).
So true! and the plump cheeks and double chin. Somethings never change.
Love it! Chance encounter? Or divine intervention? Equally serendipitous. Can’t wait to hear more.
Yes, we think it was Divine intervention to keep me off the streets. Thanks for your support.
I just love hearing this story and having it written down to reread and share!
Thanks Katie.
Excellent story! Thanks for sharing the history, so fun.
Thanks Gale!
Love this! keep ’em coming! I love learning the history of your family and seeing the pictures.
Thanks Ellen!
Dan – this is Awesome!! Congrats! Marie and I are now Empty Nesters…while we missed the opportunity to sail aboard the Sunshine, we look forward to seeing you in the BVI’s! Wait…are we invited?
Hi Dan and Marie. Yes, you are invited. I had always hoped that you would make it up to Sunshine. I hope the kids will be able to come with you down to the BVI during a college break.
Sounds like your Birthday yesterday was a Happy one Dan!!
I love hearing how things come together Dan and we are thrilled for you.
It is a beautiful story and a real blessing to see it all come together.
Thank you for sharing with us. Looking forward to reading Part Two.
Keith and Karen Anderson
Thank you Keith and Karen. I believe the finished project will be a blessing that we can share with family and friends, just like Sunshine was.
Wow!
I love how you are documenting the progress.
Hi Kim. Thank you for your support.
Love your blog, Dan! And seeing the photo of your family when u were so young is so wonderful ❤️ Sounds like all signs r pointing to a great new next chapter. We r so happy for you guys.
Thanks Megan.
I loved your telling some family history and also about how you learned about the BVIs. Thanks, Dan.
Iove,
Spud
So glad the stars aligned and you were able to start on this “meant to be” adventure!
I am truly fascinated by your blog! It’s like reading a good book, I can’t wait to read what happens next! Thank you for sharing these awesome photos too. I sincerely hope Phil and I can come visit some day!
Another great story!
Duff and I are firm believers that in life things will happen when they are meant to happen and where. Congratulations on this new adventure!!
Heartwarming! Thanks for sharing your project and adventure Dan.
So special!!!